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Chen Style Tai Chi Lineage

Jesse Tsao, 12th-Generation Chen Style Tai Chi

Chen Zhenglei with Jesse Tsao
Formal disciple ceremony with Chen family direct-line successor Chen Zhenglei

Chen Style Tai Chi Lineage

Chen Wangting


Chen Changxing	Chen Fake	Chen Zhaopei	Chen Zhaokui

Brief History of Chen Style Tai Chi

Chen Style Tai Chi is the earliest historically verifiable Tai Chi system in existence in China. It is commonly accepted that Tai Chi was developed in the village of Chenjiagou in Wenxian County, Henan Province, China. According to the Wenxian County Annals, Chen Wangting (1600-1680), a retired military officer and a ninth generation family member of the Chen Family, was credited with having originated Chen Style Tai Chi around 1644. Tai Chi theory is largely based on "The Book of Changes" along with concepts from the meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine, as detailed in "The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Chinese Medicine". He combined some war field fighting knowledge into it. Influenced greatly by the Ji Xiao Xin Shu (New Book of Effective Techniques), a book on strategy; discipline; and collation of folk marital arts by a famous general, Qi Jiguang (1528-1487) of Shandong during the Ming Dynasty. Qi Jiguang preferred the necessity of rigorous physical fitness training and effective hand-to-hand tactics, and not accepting the superiority of brute strength alone as the determining factor in battle. Chen Wangting carried forward Qi’s essential theories, and created a new way in training called Tai Chi Quan. Chen Wangting was also credited with creating push hands drills, in which students practice "adhering" to each others movements to increase their sensitivity to their partners' intentions, which thereby function as a bridge between solo practice and free sparring.

Chen Changxing (1771-1853), a sixth generation Chen Tai Chi practitioner was famous as the first master teaching his family’s secrets to outsiders. Yang Style Tai Chi founder Yang Luchan (1800 -1873), was his best student. Yang developed his own form, a modified version of the Chen Chanxing's original long form - Liaojia Yilu.

Chen Fake (1887-1957), a ninth generation Chen Tai Chi practitioner, expanded greatly the Chen style Tai Chi to the mainstream of Chinese martial arts. There were numerous stories of Chen Fake's abilities as a martial artist, his courage and skill when establishing his reputation in Beijing, where he came to teach in 1928. Chen Fake taught in Beijing for nearly 30 years, enhancing the reputation of the family style, and establishing a distinguished lineage of his own students. The most famous were: Chen Zhaokwei (son); Feng Zhiqiang; Gu Liuxing, ...

Chen Zhaopei (1893-1973) a 10th generation Chen Tai Chi practitioner. He was invited to teach at Tun Ren Tong, the famous medical establishment, in 1918, his reputation as a martial artist quickly grew and he was lately invited (1930) to teach at the prestigious Nanjing Central Martial Arts Academy. In 1958, Chen Zhaopei returned to Chen village and served as the chief instructor, where he was responsible for passing on the Old Frame (Laojia) and traditional weapons sets to the 11th Chen Tai Chi generation practitioners. Among them are the famous present-day "Four Tigers of Chen's Village", Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, and Wang Xian. He was honored for his effort in saving Chen Village ‘s Tai Chi through the Cultural Revolution difficult time of China!

Chen Zhaokui (1928 - 1981), also a 10th generation of Chen Tai Chi practitioner, joined his father, Chen Fake, in Beijing at the age of 3. He was credited for passing on of the New Frame (Xinjia) to the public. So that, his father Chen Fake started the Xinjia practice, and he taught the Xinjia. He made annual visits to Chen Village after Chen Zhaopei passed away, and taught the Xianjia to the well-known "Four Tigers of Chen's Village". Largely due to his efforts, the Xinjia Chen style Tai Chi flushing in Chen Village nowadays!

Chen Style Workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei